Team Members

​Gil grew up in Black’s Chapel Methodist, in rural Cumberland County. The son of Jack Wise and Louise Collier he has been a resident of eastern North Carolina all his life. He is a graduate of Methodist College (1983), Duke Divinity School (1988) and was awarded a Doctor of Ministry from Solid Rock School of Theology in 2011. He has served in a variety of ministry settings over the past thirty years. He began as a camper at Camp Rockfish, served as a camp counselor, camp assistant director and chairperson for the Conference Camping Commission. 

He served on Annual Conference Staff. He served in student field setting placements at Maysville, Hopewell, High Falls, Fair Promise, Cool Springs and Carbonton United Methodist Churches. He served as associate pastor of Fayetteville Community Church: a non-denominational congregation. He served Buie, Parkton, Zion and The Rock United Methodist Churches before planting Solid Rock United Methodist Church in 2001. Solid Rock grew to incorporate 4 other small membership churches in Community, Mt. Ariel, Woodland and Spring Lake United Methodist Churches that formed a team supporting ministry to over 7,000 persons in area around Ft. Bragg. 

From 2013-2021, Gil served on the Bishop’s Cabinet as District Superintendent of the Beacon District where he led 85 churches and supervised over 65 pastors. Gil has a heart for the rural church. He has been a leader in the Duke Endowment Thriving

Rural Churches program. It is his belief that reclaiming the movement of Methodism will reconnect all our churches, regardless of size or location, to a calling that is still deep in our roots. He believes “We are living in an hour of unprecedented outpouring upon the church of Jesus Christ that we might fulfill our calling to be a witness to the nations.”

Fulfilling a prophecy spoken over him in 1990, Gil is a part of a new move of God that is impacting the world. He was instrumental in launching the Global Methodist Church and is a part of leading the NC Conference of the Global Methodist Church with over 400 congregations across the state. Gil serves as the Lead Presiding Elder of the Fayetteville District and Dean of the Cabinet for the NC Conference. He is main role in ministry is a Local Church as the Lead Pastor of Salem Methodist Church in Eastover.

Gil is married to Linda Trudeau Wise, also a graduate of Methodist College (1983). She is a retired elementary music teacher in the State of North Carolina having served for 30 years in 3 school districts across the state. They have three children: Joel, Benjamin, Elizabeth and 4 grandchildren.

Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Denise has been a valued member of the Salem team for over 20 years. She serves as the Director of Childcare Ministries, overseeing programs such as SMASH/e-Merge and the Preschool Program.

Denise is married to Raymond and is the proud mother of four children—Alex, Samantha, David, and Jill—and grandmother to five grandchildren: William, Charlotte, Benson, Anderson, and Maverick.

Salem welcome Daria onto the team in October 2024. Originally from Whiteville, North Carolina, she moved to the area in 2018 while completing her Bachelor's degree at UNC Pembroke. With over 3 years of experience in Marketing and Administrative Office duties, Daria brings a strong background to her role at Salem.

She was married in 2021 and has one son.

​Pastor Mike Bass was ordained at this year's GMC Annual Conference as an Elder. Mike is gifted in Biblical Studies and will be serving in this capacity at Salem. He has a calling to those outside the church. An avid biker, Mike is not your typical pastor. With the grounding of the Holy Scriptures, Mike reaches across all the lines of society to bring a scriptural witness into the lives of others. He is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and previously served as the Associate Pastor of the 5 Campuses of Solid Rock with our Pastor Gil Wise. Together Mike and Gil gave witness to the rise of a new church plant in Harnett County that had a budget of over 2 Million.

Katie joined the Salem team in July 2019. Growing up in a military family, she moved frequently before settling in Columbia, South Carolina, where she spent 12 years. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Business Management. With over 12 years of management experience and more than 2 years in banking, Katie brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Katie is the proud mother of two beautiful children.

Gary Wages celebrates 22+ years at Salem! He earned his Bachelor of Music in piano and voice from East Carolina University. Soon after, he was accepted into the United States Naval School of Music, where he studied military music, jazz, and pop music. Upon completing the School of Music he became the pianist and vocalist with the US Navy Sixth Fleet Show Band, Gaeta and Naples Italy.

After the Navy, Gary was certified in public school music at Campbell University. Additional studies were completed at Fayetteville Technical Community College, receiving his associate degree in business.

Gary Taught piano and voice at his studio in Falcon, North Carolina, and has been a church musician and entertainer. He is currently the minister of music, serving as choir director, pianist, and organist here at Salem Methodist Church.

We’re thrilled to welcome Kasey Ivey to our Salem team as our new Family Life Minister! Kasey will be guiding our kids and youth on their faith journeys with care, passion, and purpose. She is married and has one daughter. We’re so excited to have her as part of the Salem family!